Harry Potter Books Promote Witchcraft

Written by Prof Johan Malan.

Abstract: A former witch read the Harry Potter books and found them to be manuals for training in witchcraft.

Many people earnestly warn against the interest in the occult which is promoted among the youth by the Harry Potter books. On the other hand, there are ‘Christian’ groups, including various pastors and theologians at universities, who see no moral or spiritual danger in these books. The Roman Catholic journal, Catholic Studies, praises the Potter books because they learn children that good can prevail over evil.

The fact is that in these books there is no contradistinction between two categories of “good” and “malevolent” witchcraft. All forms of witchcraft are rightly described as the dark arts. That means that the same, occult power of witchcraft can be applied with various objectives. Protective magic (or white magic) can, therefore, be applied against malevolent magic (or black magic). Any form of involvement with magical practices – for whatever good or bad purpose – is occult in nature and therefore demonic.

Training school in witchcraft

a Former witch who was powerfully saved from the clutches of the devil, issued a very serious warning in America against the Harry Potter books. His name and address is: Pastor David J. Meyer, Last Trumpet Ministries International, P.O. Box 806, Beaver Dam, WI 53916. He said, among others:

“I am writing this urgent message because I was once a witch. I lived by the stars as an astrologer and numerologist casting horoscopes and spells. I lived in the mysterious and shadowy realm of the occult. By means of spells and magic, I was able to invoke the powers of the ‘controlling unknown’ and fly upon the night winds transcending the astral plane. Halloween was my favourite time of the year and I was intrigued and absorbed in the realm of Wiccan witchcraft… “[Thirty-one years ago] I was miraculously saved by the power of Jesus Christ and His saving blood. I was also delivered from every evil spirit that lived in me, and was set free… “As a former witch, I can speak with authority when I say that I have examined the works of J.K. Rowling, and that the Harry Potter books are training manuals for the occult. Untold millions of young people are being taught to think, speak, dress and act like witches by filling their heads with the contents of these books. Children are so obsessed with the Harry Potter books that they have left television and video games to read these witchcraft manuals. “The first book of the series, entitled Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, finds the orphan, Harry Potter, embarking into a new realm when he is taken to Hogwart’s School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. At this school, Harry Potter learns how to obtain and use witchcraft equipment. Harry also learns a new vocabulary, including words such as Azkaban, Circe, Draco, Erised, Hermes and Slytherin, all of which are names of real devils or demons. These are not characters of fiction! “By reading these materials, many millions of young people are learning how to work with demon spirits. They are getting to know them by name. Vast numbers of children professing to be Christians are also filling their hearts and minds, while willingly ignorant parents look the other way… “Sadly enough, this blatant witchcraft has been endorsed by well-known and respected ‘Christian’ leaders such as Dr. James Dobson and Chuck Colson, who have proven themselves to be modern day Judas Iscariots. Nothing could be more obvious than that Harry Potter books are pure witchcraft and of the devil. The ‘Christian’ leaders, however, defend them by saying that good magic always wins and overcomes evil magic. “This is the oldest con game ever hatched out of hell. As a real witch, I learned about the two sides of the force. Apparently, so do many ‘Christian’ leaders. When real witches meet as a coven, they greet each other by saying, “Blessed be…”, and when they part, they say, “The Force be with you.” Both sides of this Force [which are used to bless and curse] are of Satan. It is not a good side of the force that overcomes the bad side of the force, but rather it is the blood of Jesus Christ alone that destroys both supposed sides of the satanic Force. “High-level witches believe that there are seven satanic princes and that the seventh, who is assigned to [deceive and attack] Christians, has no name. In coven meetings, he is called The Nameless One. In the Harry Potter books, there is a character called Voldemort. The pronunciation guide says of this being, He who must not be named… “On July 8 at midnight, bookstores everywhere were stormed by millions of children to obtain the latest and fourth book of the series known as Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire… July 8th was the 18th day (three sixes in numerology) from the witches’ sabat of midsummer. July 8th was also the 13th day from the signing of the United Religions Charter in San Francisco. Now we have learned that the public school system is planning to use Harry Potter books in the classrooms, making the public schools centres of witchcraft training. “What does God have to say about such books as the Harry Potter series? In Acts 19:18-20 (NKJ) we read the following: “Also, many of those who had practised magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totalled fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.” “As parents, we will answer to God if we allow our children to read witchcraft books. The Word of God will prevail mightily in our lives only if such things of Satan are destroyed.”

Certain schools to follow suit

Witchcraft [magic] is offered as a school subject in certain schools in Europe up to the highest grade of the secondary school. Use is made of practising occultists such as fortune-tellers, diviners and astrologers to lecture to the children. It stands to reason that the Harry Potter books will also be prescribed there, with a view to pursuing career opportunities that knowledge of witchcraft would offer in a decadent society!

The four Harry Potter books are not unique but appeared at the right time on a very receptive market. These and other books on the occult lured millions of bored youths to an imaginative journey to the unknown, occult world of witches and sorcerers. In the process, their senses and discernment are blinded by the god of this world [Satan] (2 Cor. 4:4), thereby opening the way to a real world of demons, deceiving spirits, supernatural powers and doctrines of devils (1 Tim. 4:1). Many youngsters of our time have no spiritual anchors due to the secular or multireligious education to which they are exposed, and also get poor or no direction from their parents.

“There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Prov. 14:12).

New Age transformations

The following quotation comes from the booklet The New Age Movement by Johan Malan. It explains the sinister motives behind the present consciousness programmes of the New Age Movement to introduce psychic thinking in society. The sharply increased interest in witchcraft and other occult phenomena is an indication that they are succeeding with their evil plans:

“The Movement has extensive consciousness programmes. They not only try to influence religious groups and governments with their ideology, but also the media, educational, and entertainment establishments. “The educational system must undergo the most radical transformation process. Changes must be introduced at the level of the pre-school child, and be implemented across the entire spectrum to the most advanced tertiary institutions, including theological seminaries. The identity consciousness of pupils and students must be countered. They must be prepared to take their place as planetary citizens in a multi-cultural, multi-religious, non-racial and non-sexist society. Narrow-mindedness must be replaced by the largest possible degree of open-mindedness on all matters, thereby superseding any narrow ideological orientation. Theological faculties must be declared open faculties where Eastern, African and other religions can be included in the curricula of disciplines such as comparative religion, science of religion, or religious studies. In this way the gap between different religions and ideologies can be narrowed. “In many institutions psycho-techniques are taught to children from a young age to obtain higher levels of consciousness, and to discover and use the latent powers of the mind. In certain educational programmes, strong emphasis is placed on cosmic powers. “Due to a renewed interest in astrology, cosmic influences on people’s lives are studied. Paranormal phenomena are also investigated. Several universities recognise holistic health practices, including the role of traditional healers in treating the sick. Their mystical psycho-techniques and alternative medicine are often recommended to patients. “The New Age’s view on cosmic consciousness ties up with many of the self-image development theories with which humanistic psychology is experimenting at present. Management seminars are also conducted for the business sector in which a new self-image, Silva Mind Control, telepathy, the psychical influencing of people, future projections, meditation, and yoga relaxation exercises are taught. “A theme that is strongly emphasised in the entertainment world, is the existence of beings of a higher order in the universe. They are often referred to as masters of wisdom or masters of the universe, and their leader is somebody like He-man or Superman who has unlimited powers. “These themes are dramatised in TV and video sagas. Occult fantasies such as Harry Potter promote new and dangerous ways of thinking among youngsters, making them discontented with their present limitations. They see themselves as captives in a world full of oppressing structures. To escape this harsh reality, the modern youth are looking for heroes who openly reject the present order, despise the authority of God, and offer a liberation movement for the spirit, soul and body. In flights of imagination, they learn to escape to another world. Techniques for mystical experiences inevitably strengthen this inclination. “Rock stars are also regarded as heroes and youngsters mould themselves on them as idols – yet they portray and promote an immoral, escapist, irresponsible, decadent life-style of promiscuous sex, drug-taking, alcohol abuse, involvement in the occult and godlessness. Mystical experiences, drunkenness, free sex, witchcraft, and satanism are regarded as adventurous challenges in the search for freedom. Despite the destructive results of this false utopia, the victims of deceit carry on regardless of the consequences. “Many of the adults of our time are products of the godless cults of the past four decades. As a result of the ideological corruption in their education, the immorality of a permissive humanistic society, and the religious decadence of backslidden and dead churches, they now look for sensational and mystical ways to escape the dullness of life. These popular interests have given rise to film productions such as the following: Star wars, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, Poltergeist, The Exorcist, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, ET, Close Encounters, and The Dark Crystal. “The world is now ready to be delivered to the big Superman and practitioner of dark, occult powers, the lawless one and false prince of peace, the Antichrist. The Bible calls him “that man of sin… whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders” (2 Thes. 2:3, 9). Are you and your children among the victims of his intellectual, moral, and spiritual corruption, or do you have enlightened eyes of the mind to be able to discern the snares of the Wicked One? The kingdom of darkness is now making a final bid to subject all people to the power of delusion in order that they may believe the lies of its false peace, cosmic unity and supernatural powers.”

Denouncement of witchcraft

The Bible strongly denounces witchcraft and other occult practices as works of the kingdom of darkness:

“There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practises witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord” (Deut. 18:10-12 NKJ). “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live” (Ex. 22:18 KJV) “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these, adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft… and such like: of the which I tell you before… that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:19-21 KJV).

There is no justification whatsoever to educate children in evil practices, other than warning them to stay clear form experimenting with the occult or to read books, also fiction, in which these evil acts are meticulously explained and associated with heroes in the story. Such heroes in popular stories become role-models to the youngsters and pave the way to later involvement in the real world of the dark secrets of Satan. Do not defile yourself morally and spiritually by becoming acquainted with “the depths of Satan” (Rev. 2:24).